zpostcode
Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess
Aug 1, 2026 9:12 AM

  

Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess1

  Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess Written by Amy McKenna Amy McKenna is a senior editor, primarily focused on geography and history matters pertaining to sub-Saharan Africa. She joined Encyclopaedia Britannica in 2004. She was previously employed by Standard... Amy McKenna Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 14, 2026 •History A little more than a year after winning an Academy Award, an American actress stepped into a different role: that of real-life princess. On this day in 1956, the two-day wedding celebration of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III began in the tiny European principality of Monaco. Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on April 18, or any other day of the...

  .eb-448-paywall-overlay { position: relative; background: white; border: 2px solid #93c5fd; border-radius: 16px; text-align: center; box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0px #bfdbfe; width: 100%; overflow: hidden; } .eb-448-paywall-overlay-padding { padding: 40px 48px; } .eb-448-paywall-simple { border: 2px solid #93c5fd; } .eb-448-decorative-left-simple, .eb-448-decorative-right-simple { position: absolute; top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%); } .eb-448-decorative-left-simple { left: 0px; transform: translateY(-50%) scaleX(-1); } .eb-448-paywall-simple .eb-448-decorative-right-simple { right: 0; } .eb-448-paywall-content { position: relative; z-index: 15; } .eb-448-header-section { display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 8px; } .eb-448-features { display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; gap: 12px; margin-bottom: 32px; font-size: 14px; color: #525252; } .eb-448-features-simple { color: #6b6b6b; } .eb-448-feature-free-trial { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; color: black; } .eb-448-feature-secondary { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 12px; } .eb-448-feature { font-weight: 600; } .eb-448-feature.simple { font-weight: 400; } .eb-448-feature.bold { color: balck; font-weight: 700; } .eb-448-feature.blue { color: #14599d; } .eb-448-divider { color: #cbd5e0; font-weight: 300; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text { color: #525252; margin-bottom: 8px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text-simple { font-weight: 400; color: #6b6b6b; } .eb-448-decorative-left { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; height: 100%; z-index: -1; } .eb-448-decorative-right { position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; height: 100%; } .eb-448-decorative-image { height: 100%; } .eb-448-decorative-mobile { width: 100%; display: none; img { width: 100%; } } @media (max-width: 672px) { .eb-448-features { gap: 8px; font-size: 12px; } .eb-448-unsubscribe-text { font-size: 12px; } .eb-448-decorative-left, .eb-448-decorative-right { display: none; } .eb-448-decorative-mobile { display: flex; } .eb-448-paywall-overlay-padding { padding: 20px 24px; } .eb-448-features-simple { flex-direction: column; } .eb-448-feature-free-trial .eb-448-divider { display: none; } .eb-448-thistle-icon { filter: blur(2px); } }

  

Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess2

  Discover the world with Britannica Subscribe to Continue Reading Free Trial | No Ads | Exclusive Content Unsubscribe Anytime!

  Explore Subscriptions

  

Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess3

  

Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess4

  

Today in History—April 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess5

Comments
Welcome to zpostcode comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Information Recommendation
Malvin Gray Johnson
  Born: January 28, 1896, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. (Show more) Died: October 4, 1934, New York City, New York (Show more) Malvin Gray Johnson (born January 28, 1896, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.—died October 4, 1934, New York City, New York) was an American artist who was one of the first African Americans to paint in the Cubist style. Malvin Gray...
Save, spend, or invest: How to handle tax refunds and other financial windfalls
     Whether it’s a refund you expected or a check out of the blue, finding money waiting in your mailbox can feel even better than finding a $20 bill in your jeans pocket. What will you do with this unexpected windfall? Before you spend it, it’s smart to take the time to think about your financial goals—and make sure you...
Morelet’s crocodile
  Also called: Mexican crocodile or Belize crocodile (Show more) Morelet’s crocodile, (Crocodylus moreletii), medium-sized crocodile species inhabiting forests and wetlands and coastal freshwater and brackish waterways in Belize, northern Guatemala, and states in Mexico bordering the Gulf of Mexico. The species is distinguished from others by the shape of its snout. Unlike other crocodiles, which have triangular snouts, Morelet’s crocodile...
ATM fees: Easy ways to avoid them with a little planning
     If you’ve ever used an ATM at a convenience store or supermarket, you may have paid a fee—and perhaps not a small one, either. Expected or not, those fees can add up if you use an ATM regularly.   But it’s easy to avoid ATM fees if you understand how you incur them, the different types of fees you might...
Bassirou Diomaye Faye
  Born: March 25, 1980, Ndiaganiao, Senegal (Show more) Bassirou Diomaye Faye (born March 25, 1980, Ndiaganiao, Senegal) is a Senegalese politician and former tax inspector who became the president-elect of Senegal in March 2024. Faye was raised in Ndiaganiao, where he attended Marie Médiatrice Catholic School. He later attended Lycée Demba Diop in Mbour, where he graduated in 2000. Faye...
plasterer bee
  Also called: cellophane bee or polyester bee (Show more) plasterer bee, (family Colletidae), large family of bees with more than 2,500 species found worldwide. Their common name, which is often used to refer to the bees of the genus Colletes, is derived from the protective, cellophane-like material that females secrete and plaster to the walls of their brood cells—a behavior...
2006 Lebanon War
  2006 Lebanon War, (July 12–August 14, 2006), 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon of which the proximate cause was a cross-border attack by Hezbollah fighters that culminated with the kidnapping of a pair of Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others.   Background: Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon Hezbollah emerged in southern Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil...
Eli Lilly and Company
  Eli Lilly and Company is one of the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical and biomedical companies, known for the development and manufacture of a wide range of prescription medications for humans and animals. Among its best-known products are Cialis, a treatment for erectile dysfunction; Prozac, an antidepressant; Zyprexa, an antipsychotic; and diabetes medications Trulicity, Mounjaro, and Jardiance. In 2023, Lilly began...